097/23 Funding available under European Social Fund Priority Axis 5: The Integration of Third Country Nationals - Flexible Assistance for Territories - Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe (FAST-CARE)
Updated 29 February 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esf-action-notes-2014-to-2020-programme/09723-funding-available-under-european-social-fund-priority-axis-5-the-integration-of-third-country-nationals-flexible-assistance-for-territories
| Date Issued | 23 March 2023 |
| Review Date | 31 December 2023 |
1. Who should read
Local Enterprise Partnerships, Upper Tier Local Authorities, Combined Authorities, and Local Co-Financing Organisations.
2. Purpose
This Action Note is to notify Local Enterprise Partnerships’, Upper Tier Local Authorities, Combined Authorities and Local Co-Financing Organisations that ESF Priority Axis 5 Call FAST-CARE OC50S23X1846 has been published on GOV.UK.
3. Background
A new Priority Axis has been added to the ESF Operational Programme. Priority Axis 5 aims to address the migratory challenges resulting from the military aggression by the Russian Federation in Ukraine and to support the socio-economic integration of third country nationals. It will financially support the facilitation of the reception, welcoming and integration of people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
In June 2022, as part of its response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the European Commission adopted the FAST-CARE package. This builds on the Commission’s Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) package allowing Member States and regions to provide emergency support to people fleeing from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Managing Authority has considered the provisions available through FAST-CARE in the context of the objectives and implementation of the existing Operational Programme; and the unexpected challenges arising from the invasion, at a time when we have been engaged in the recovery of the UK economy and society after the COVID-19 pandemic.
This Priority Axis aims to promote the socio-economic integration of third country nationals with a co-financing rate of 100%. The operations are dedicated to addressing migratory challenges as a result of the military aggression by the Russian Federation. The Priority Axis supports the following Investment Priority:
Investment Priority 5.1 To facilitate the first reception and relief of people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
4. Action
This is a notification to potential applicants (Upper Tier Local Authorities, Local Co-Financing Organisations, Combined Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships) that the European Social Fund Managing Authority has published a Call on GOV.UK under Priority Axis 5 FAST-CARE Call Ref: OC50S23X1846
Through this Call the Managing Authority will be seeking applications from upper tier Local Authorities, or other types of delivery partnership arrangements, based on retroactive Local Authority costs incurred in the reception, welcoming, and integration of third country nationals, in England between 24 February 2022 to 31 August 2022, as a result of the military aggression by the Russian Federation.
This is not a standard ESF Call and applicants are asked to note the Call requirements and the information within the supporting documents published on GOV.UK.
The closing date for applications to be submitted to the ESF Managing Authority is 11:59pm on 15 May 2023.
5. Contact
If you have any queries about this Action Note please email: esf.2014-2020@dwp.gov.uk